The fragrant scent of incense sticks burned in a Buddhist temple as devotees flocked in to pray for their well-being. Chants from monks buzzed in a low drone as a huge bronze statue of Buddha was situated in the middle.
An array of weapons laid in front of the sombre expression monk as he blessed each one. His slit eyes rose to the people cluttered in neat rows opposite him.
They were a formidable clan of warriors although ventured off into the wrong path. The tattoos showed a goddess whose wrath brought chaos to the world.
But one member stood out from the rest of men. A young female whose dirty blonde locks tied in a haphazard bun as a few loose tendrils framed her serene feature.
The monk continued his chants while a few of his fellow brothers hummed along. He had no business to interfere since these group guarded this temple with their sinful ways.
The swords were a reminder to the priest how many lives had been lost but it was a world where the toughest only survived.
A former ronin; the said priest was disgusted by the constant bloodshed so, he had chosen a life in a monastery.
Soon, the prayers were completed everyone stood upright. In silence, they each took a turn to retrieve their weapons and piled up in a line to exit out.
People naturally gave them a wide berth, surreptitiously peeked at the bare masculine chests covered in ink as one totted a bandage around her chest.
A sleeve hung over one arm to show off toned muscles from regular usage of the Hokuto and katana. Tanned skin due to being under the sun on numerous occasions.
Haruka sauntered in the company of her brother at arms.
She wore a plain black yukata over whipcord lean frame; white tape on both feet until her calves which matched on both hands.
Her mossy green eyes focused on the front.
The head honcho led the pack of hungry dogs. He halted to fish out coins to donate as the elderly priest whose bowed back from old age blessed him.
The female languidly shoved a hand in the front of her lapel. She was chosen as their commander in the gang, it was rare to view males who heed orders from a mere female.
"I want to have a drinking session," Ashimoto Raiku, their leader commented out of the blue.
A chorus of merry voices erupted whilst Haruka smirked a little.
It was a norm for them to retire at a local brothel house. Of course, this part of Edo was taken over by them even the whores were paid by the Amanozako.
"What'd you say, Haruka?" Raiku peered sidelong at her.
She was rather tall which credited to her boyish figure.
The duskiness painted the sky marine and sprinkle of stars detectable. Soon, night market was set up past the streets.
"I'm fine either way," she replied in a deep voice.
All of a sudden, someone bumped against Haruka as she peered downward at a child whose innocent grin cast at her.
"M-Miko chan!" the mother called out in a frantic tone.
Haruka pressed a finger in the middle of the toddler's forehead without breaking her stride and pushed the small human backwards with ease.
The toddler collapsed into her mother's open arm accompanied by an ear-splitting squeal.
"Oi, Haruka where's your motherly instinct?" One of the crew joked.
"I meticulously clawed out that gene," she retorted in a straight voice.
"Don't mess with our Haruka," Hachiman commented. "She'll rip your guts out."
"She's no fun," the first person whom horse around exhaled.
The blonde girl rolled her eyes in boredom. The men were a bunch of pussies when they weren't on duty yet she respected each one.
Everyone harboured secrets from the past.
Soon, prostitutes streamed by the side either tagged by prospective partners or beckoned others. The moment the women spied the Amanozako clan their excitement palpable.
"Oubu san," one waved a dainty hand. "Will you accompany me?"
The male chuckled before he shook his moppy head.
"I'll get back to you soon," he promised.
"You have a pretty lady calling you out but Oubu declines," Raiku spoke in a cheery voice.
The built male in late forties mocked the young man.
Haruka glanced at the leader as she recalled that one stormy night amidst the campsite.
It had been many years since that incident but a which moment marked the start of her life as a ronin. They have either gained newcomers or lost their own within those many years.
She turned her head upward to view the night scenery. Red lanterns strung across; bellows emitted from open windows and feminine voices floated.
They were located in a private room as geishas dance in front of them as a few sang.
The blonde head sat cross-legged as she rubs the back of her neck due to exhaustion. Haruka's sense of smell alerted her before a young geisha quietly chose to sit beside her.
The trained geisha began to pour sake into a cup and raised it toward her. Haruka grasped for the same cup at the same time ignored the other's presence.
"Do you want me to bring food, Haruka san?" The geisha inquired in a feeble tone.
Haruka finally peered at the flustered girl.
Bright eyes cast downward; the geisha's wig was intricate but Haruka apperceive the ranks and gruel lessons to be a woman of entertainment. They were different from to those who loitered below.
Haruka continued to peruse the girl's outlook.
"No thank you," she answered in a low tone. "I'll have my dinner at the local restaurant."
But the female missed the opportunity to spy the young woman's dejected countenance. Still, she remained by her side until Haruka got upright to leave the room.
A few glances were shared amongst the women who had the grace to share the same futon as the ronin. True, they were of same-sex yet Haruka's nature leaned more to the opposite sex.
"Haruka," one of them joyously called out. "Will you come to me tonight?"
"Find someone else," she remarked in a dull voice.
Once outdoors, Haruka paused to rearrange her knot on the top; that mere action caused the tattoo on the upper right shoulder blade to stir.
The appearance of the tattoo was a demon goddess; human in appearance yet nurtured a bestial face accompanied by the similar shape of a tengu nose. Droopy ears, needlelike sharp teeth and protruding tasks from its mouth.
She resumed her walk forward to the restaurant.
The lone figure pushed the nori at the anterior of a stall. Before Haruka entered, she figured tonight was a rather busy after hours. Wherever she ventured, she garnered all sorts of the peer.
Yet, a code of samurai which she never practised but abide by forbidding oneself from eye contact that could be conveyed as a challenge.
All the same, most were unaware that she was part and parcel of the blades strapped to her side. Literally born from the same womb.
The individuals acting under the restaurant roofs thankfully accredited the female's existence. Each greeted her with a wave and a nod.
She sat at an empty spot away from the raucous crowds.
"Haruka chan-" the waitress acknowledged with a smile.
"Yo."
"-the usual?" she giggled at the deadpan answer.
"Yeah."
"... the Shinsengumi are once again creating unnecessary trouble!"
"... Kyoto has been turned upside down because of them."
Haruka sat straight when the bowl of ramen came to view. With ease, she lapped up her dinner at the same multitask.
Gossips.
"I heard they are demons!" one asshole exaggerated.
The gangster snorted quietly, she shook her head in disbelief. Those Shinsengumi must be proud as gossipmongers spread dark rumours of them.
"... I know some of the samurais hail from Edo..."
"The politics are a screw-up!" another piped in. "Many shopkeepers are suffering from their actions."
"Shoko chan," Haruka gestured her hand up and down to invite the cheery girl. "I'll take my leave now."
She placed coins on the other's open palm.
"Come back soon, Haruka chan!"
She exited the stall to take a whiff of fresh air. Haruka had no place to call home unlike most of them. She'd rather be a drifter than settle down in one place. Yet at times, the solemn samurai wished for a roof.
She returned to the brothel, momentarily gazed up the windows, before a change of directions. A few steps ahead when a soft voice baited her.
"Haruka san!" it was the same geisha from earlier. "Where are you off to?"
Haruka concluded that the young female was on her way home.
"Nowhere," Haruka remarked. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh," she fidgetted nervously. "You can sleep over my place."
"I'm not interested-"
"Don't worry," she quickly cut off Haruka's sentence. "As a friend."
"I'm not your friend," she sighed aloud.
"But accompany me tonight without any involvement," she rushed with her words.
"Do you how suggestive it sounds?" Haruka arched a thin brow.
"Oh.. but I did not mean.." the words trailed off.
"Fine," Haruka shook her head slowly. "At least, I will have a place to sleep tonight."
"I promise not to get in your way," she beamed at her.
"Whatever."